Child Support

According to Arizona law, and every state has similar laws, both parents owe a duty of support towards their children. When a couple separates, child support can be imposed as a way of making sure that both parents are contributing to the financial needs of the children.

Child support is based on the Arizona Child Support Guidelines and involves several factors, including the gross (pre-tax) income of the parties, the number of children, the age of the children, day care and school costs, and the amount of time the children spend with each parent. After these factors are determined, the court uses a child support calculator to determine the actual child support amount.

Either parent may seek child support and child support is usually ordered in divorce or paternity proceedings. The state may also initiate child support proceedings. The state will seek a child support order when the child in question receives some sort of state aid. The state looks to the non-custodial parent for reimbursement of monies it has paid out to the child. The state may even seek child support from both parents if the child has become a ward of the state.